Head Gasket Leaking ( Heavy Duty Head Studs )

[kalebarellano]

I rebuilt my 400ex, and ever since I have had a slight head gasket leak. I replaced it again and it still leaks. Should I get heavy duty head studs and get my head shaved or what? I already have another gasket kit.

[kalebarellano]

Anyone?

[JOEX]

Originally posted by kalebarellano
Anyone?
The message board is kinda slow on the weekends;)

HD studs will probably be a good idea and you may want to at least check the head AND cylinder for flatness just in case;)

[GOTFEAR]

i would run heavy duty studs and have the cylinder and head surface cut

[kalebarellano]

So if I do the heavy duty head studs, I would need to drill and tap the cylinder? Is that hard? Were can I get the kit, the cheapest?

Thanks

[flauge]

It'd probably be the best if you got a machine shop to do it. I don't think they'll charge much, maybe 50$ to $75 to put them in.:cool:

[gojk]

I would let a machine shop do it also. The holes need to be perfectly straight when drilled, and they should use a "roll" tap, I believe it is called, rather than a regular tap that cuts threads. This tap basically smashes the metal to make the treads rather than cutting the metal, which makes the aluminum threads much stronger.

[honda288]

The taps are called cold form taps (press tap) They require diff size drill hole then the normal taps. Some shops do not use that type of tap so make sure they have them.

[flauge]

^ Yea, make sure they use the right tap. I think im gonna send mine out to C&D to get mine done just so i know its done right.;)

[f150mann]

just use a jthread